SENIOR PROJECT LEAD

City of Toronto • Toronto, ON

7d • CA$89,337 - CA$132,880 • Onsite

About The Position

Finance Shared Services (FSS) is seeking a proactive and strategic Senior Project Lead to oversee the planning and execution of the Finance Shared Services (FSS) transformation initiative. This role will be responsible for providing project leadership within the overall transformation program, coordinating cross-functional activities, and ensuring that project milestones are met. The successful candidate will bring expertise in project management, transformation delivery, and risk mitigation to support the successful implementation of the FSS operating model.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Business, Public Administration, Project Management, or related field – or a combination of education and experience.
• Considerable project management experience managing project lifecycle from inception to completion for complex, large-scale transformation projects, preferably within finance or shared services environments.
• Experience with risk management principles and project governance frameworks, including establishing and leading governance structures such as steering committees, status reporting, and escalation protocols.
• Experience with business analysis, business process re-design, strategic planning and change management., including leading end-to-end finance transformation initiatives.
• Experience with issues management with the ability to identify needs and initiate, coordinate and confidently manage the implementation of solutions.
• Experience defining, tracking, and reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs), service level agreements (SLAs), and benefits realization (e.g., cost savings, efficiency gains, service improvements).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, Excel, and PowerPoint, business intelligence tools, developing spreadsheet models, relational databases, and presentations.
• Ability to ensure alignment with corporate and divisional strategic objectives and to advise leadership on transformation progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Ability to implement changes and work as a motivated self-starter with the ability to problem solve and use outside the box thinking.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with stakeholders including staff, clients and partners while exercising discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
• Highly developed communication and presentation skills (oral and written) that include excellent report writing, presentation and conflict resolution skills including experience presenting to leadership.
• High degree of conceptual ability and capacity to develop creative solutions regarding various policies and programs, the refinement of existing processes and procedures, and the evaluation of problems.
• Highly developed organizational skills with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, deliver results and plan and prioritize activities to meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills working as part of a team, including in relationship building, fostering positive and constructive relations, influencing, and the ability to promote and ultimately secure buy-in on project initiatives.
• Ability to support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity, and respectful workplaces.

Nice To Haves

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certification considered an asset.
• Experience leading or supporting ERP or major financial systems implementations (e.g., SAP) including data migration, system integration, and reporting is preferred.
• Familiarity with shared services models and municipal government operations is preferred.
• Knowledge of core finance functions, such as Accounts Receivable & Collections, and Accounts Payable including an understanding of associated financial controls and compliance frameworks would be an asset.

Responsibilities

• Leads assigned projects to ensure effective teamwork, communication, high standards of work quality, and continuous improvement
• Develops and implements detailed transformation project plans and recommends policies/procedures regarding program specific requirements.
• Conducts research into assigned area ensuring that such research takes into account developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
• Champions and provides leadership in organizational initiatives, proactively driving change management efforts to move projects forward and support the implementation and optimization of a shared services model
• Provides input into and administers assigned budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Prepares and reviews reports for management related to confidential information, technical drawings, project schedules, financial and operational plans and business processes.
• Creates, analyzes, prepares and monitors key performance indicators and transformation outcomes to measure the effectiveness and efficiencies of programs and projects, both internally and externally, and provides analysis to senior management and members of Council.
• Reviews the work of staff with a keen attention to detail in an effort to ensure consistency and quality from the Division Head's office.
• Provides confidential staffing and labour relations assistance for the program. Supports service and workforce rationalization projects covering multiple divisions, agencies and corporations and attends meetings where confidential labour relations information is discussed.
• Makes recommendations to senior Divisional management with regards to service optimization and business process simplifications that could result in alternate service delivery/contracting out, restructuring, changes in staffing levels, downsizing and resource allocation.
• Provides leadership on various issues management practices for the Division.
• Liaises and facilitates collaboration between divisional team, senior and executive level staff, both internally and externally, as required.
• Coordinates the implementation of new Divisional priorities and initiatives.
• Provides input, guidance and technical expertise in the development of customer service improvement initiatives.
• Collects, analyzes, evaluates and interprets information/findings to develop recommendations for improvement to existing Divisional projects, operating procedures, policies and services.
• Ensures project benchmarks, deliverables and standards are controlled, and projects stay on track within a deadline driven environment.
• Prepares staff reports to Committees and purchasing call documents such as Request for Quotations and Request for Proposals related to various Divisional requirements.
• Participates in the process of planning and developing long range objectives for the Division.
• Provides strategic advice, prepares briefings and status reports on project progress, risks, implementation barriers, and mitigation strategies for senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Prepares responses, reports, briefing notes, minutes, divisional communication, and other correspondence on behalf of Senior Management Team. Support change management and communication efforts related to the FSS transformation.
• Assists with the supervision of staff and functions as a team player to help ensure excellent working relationships between all sections and units within the Division.
• Solicits input from internal and external stakeholders on a variety of issues to achieve project goals and objectives.
• Conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis on various Divisional issues and evaluates and synthesizes complex material in a format that is convenient for the Senior Management Team.

Benefits

• The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve.
• Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.
• Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree